Nozzle device



N. THORNE NOZZLE DEVICE Oct. 10, 1961 Filed June 26, 1959 m0 mm x m M United States Patent 3,003,706 NOZZLE DEVICE Niblack Thorne, 7450 Valley View Road, Scottsdale, Ariz. Filed June 26, 1959, Ser. No. 823,225 9 Claims. (Cl. 239-511) This invention relates to a nozzle device and more particularly to a nozzle device for use in connection with garden hose for irrigation or sprinkling purposes.

Conventional hose nozzle devices are used for sprinkling and irrigation purposes; however most of these nozzle devices which are suitable for sprinkling unduly restrict the flow through the hose so that full capacity thereof is not available when full volume irrigation or sprinkling is desired.

Other conventional hose nozzle devices which permit full flow to issue from a hose are not suitable as spraying devices particularly for substantial distances from the nozzle.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a nozzle which may be connected to a conventional garden hose and which not only provides for full flow from the hose when irrigation is desired but which also serves as a very efiicient full volume spraying device to issue a wide fan shaped spray or a long distance jet of water as desired.

Another object of the invention is to provide a nozzle device of this class having a very simple control lever which is operable by a persons thumb or finger to accomplish spraying operations while release of the lever permits water pressure to open the nozzle device to an area equal to full flow capacity of the garden hose on which the nozzle device is installed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a nozzle device for garden hose which is very simple and economical to produce.

Another object of the invention is to provide a nozzle of this class which is very durable and which may be made of a variety of non-corrosive materials such as die cast metals or plastics.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this class having a simple nozzle and valve structure provided with novel jet stream forming configuration.

Another object of the invention is to provide a nozzle device having a simple valve and lever mechanism comprising a novel assembly in the body of its device.

Further objects and advantages of the invention may be apparent from the following specification, appended claims and accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a View of the delivery end of the nozzle device in accordance with the present invention showing portions of the device broken away and in section to amplify the illustration.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the nozzle device of the present invention shown in connection with a fragmentary portion of a garden hose and illustrating by dash lines varying positions of the control lever and valve member of the nozzle.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken from the line 33 of FIG. 1 showing by dash lines a varying position of the valve member of the nozzle.

FIG. 4 is a view of the delivery end of a modified nozzle in accordance with the present invention and showing a portion thereof broken away and in section to amplify the illustration.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the modified form of the invention coupled to the end of a conventional garden hose and showing by dash lines varying positions of the control lever and valve member of the nozzle.

. FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken from the line 6--6 of FIG. 4 showing by dash lines a varying position of the valve member of the nozzle.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken from the line 77 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken from the line 8-8 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the nozzle of the invention as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings in connection with a hose held in a persons hand and showing his thumb in engagement with the control lever of the nozzle device to hold it in a position causing the valve member of the nozzle to issue a jet stream of water.

The nozzle device of the present invention is provided with a cylindrical body 10 which is provided with internal screw threads 11 adapted to threadably engage external screw threads 12 of a conventional garden hose 13. The body 10 at its delivery end 14 is provided with a delivery opening 16 which is equal to the bore A of a conventional garden hose whereby full flow capacity of the hose may be accommodated by the delivery opening 16 as will be hereinafter described. This delivery opening 16 is provided with an' arcuate portion 18 which extends substantially degrees about a central area 20 of a valve member 22 which will be hereinafter described in detail. The delivery opening 16 is further provided with straight sides 24 which form corners with another straight side 26 of the delivery opening.

The valve member 22 is fitted closely to the sides 24 and 26 and is pivotally mounted on a shaft portion 28 of an operating lever 30 which will be hereinafter described in detail.

The valve member 22 is a flapper type valve element and is provided with a straight edge portion 32 which is spaced from the arcuate portion 18 of the delivery opening 16 to provide egress for a jet stream of water when the valve member 22 is held in the solid line position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 of the drawings by the operating lever 30. The geometryof the valve member 22 as shown in FIG. 1 is similar to that as shown on enlarged scale in FIG. 7 of the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 7 of the drawings the straight edge portion 32 of the valve member is spaced a sufi'icient distance from the arcuate portion 18 of the delivery opening 16 so that maximum pressure is built up in the nozzle and the hose communicating therewith whereby a jet stream of water will issue between the arcuate portion 18 of the delivery opening 16 and the straight edge 32 of the valve member 22.

As shown in FIG. 7 of the drawings the straight edge portion 32 does not chordally intersect the arcuate portion 18 of the delivery opening 16. Opposite ends 34 and 36 of the straight edge portion 32 are slightly spaced from the arcuate portion 18 of the delivery opening 16 and the valve member 22 is provided with curved edge por tions 38 and 40- which extend from the ends 34 and 36 of the straight edge portion 32 to a location at which the arcuate portion 18 of the delivery opening 16 coincides with the straight side portions 24 of the delivery opening. Thus, substantially triangular spaces 42 and 44 are disposed between the curved portions 38 and 40 of the valve member 22 and the arcuate portion 18 of the delivery opening 16. These substantially triangular spaces 42 and 44 provide egress slits for water issuing below the level of the straight portion 32 of the valve member 22 tending to shape the jet stream which issues between the straight edge 32 and the arcuate portion 18 of the delivery opening 16 in the body 10 of the nozzle device.

As shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings the valve member 22 is provided with a hub portion 46 which is quite thick relative to its straight edge portion 32 thereby providing a tapered cross section of the valve member 22. The hub 46 is provided with an arcuate portion 48 which wipes the straight side portion 26 of the delivery opening 16.

Likewise, the valve member 22 is provided with straight edge portions 50 which wipe the straight side portions 24 of the delivery opening 16. The axis of the shaft portion 28 of the control lever 30 is located centrally of the arcuate portion 48 of the valve member 22 so that said arcuate portion 48 wipes the straight side wall 26 of the delivery opening when in various pivoted positions coinciding with various pivoted positions of the valve member '22 in the opening 16.

The shaft portion 28 of the operating lever 30 is pivotally mounted in cylindrical portions 52 and 54 in the body as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings. These bearings may be drilled in the body 10 while in the modification as shown in FIGS. 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 the bearings are provided by semi-circularconcave parts fitted together as will be hereinafter described in detail.

The valve member 22 and control lever 30 as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings is similar to that shown in FIG. 7 and the shaft portion of the control lever 30 is provided with a square in cross section portion 56 which is fitted in a conforming bore extending laterally in the valve member 22 so that the shaft'28 will positively actuate the valve member 22 as desired.

The valve member 22 may be made of nylon, metal or any other suitable material as desired; however, when this valve member 22 is made of material such as nylon the square in cross section 56 of the shaft 28 may be pressed into the bore 58 of the valve member 22 in order to provide a very secure fixture of the valve member 22 on the shaft.

In the assembly of the nozzle device shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings the valve member 22 is placed in the nozzle delivery opening 16 and the square in cross section portion 58 of the shaft portion 28 is pressed into the 'bore of the valve member 22 thereby completing the assembly of the nozzle device in accordance with the invention.

In the modification as shown in FIGS. 4 to 8 inclusive the body 10 is provided with a cap 60 having a flange 62 which fits into an annular recess portion 64 of the body 10. The cap 60 is provided with an inner wall 66 which is located upon the axis of the shaft portion 28 of the control lever 30 and the bearings 40 of the shaft 28 at opposite edges of the valve member 22 are provided by semicircular recesses in the cap 60 and the body 10. These'semi-circular recesses coincide with each other and each extend 180, degrees about the shaft at its portions 68 and 70.

This structure is disclosed in FIG. 8 wherein the cap 60 .is provided with a recess 72 and the body 10 is provided 'with a matching recess 74. These recesses are then combined to form a 360 degree bearing about the portion 68 of the shaft portion 28.

In the assembly of the modified structure the valve member 22 may be secured to the shaft portion 56 by fusion or it may be cast thereon as desired and then placed in position so that the cap 60 may be fitted over the body 10 to hold the valve member 22 captive in the delivery opening 16. Under such assembly conditions the semi-circular recesses 72 and 74 come together about the shaft hearings to complete the assembly of the nozzle device in accordance with invention. It will be appre ciated thatif the parts are made of plastic the cap 60 at its flange 62 may be cemented or fused to the body 10 and that this cap 62 whether it be made of plastic or other material must have a slot 76 to slide over the shaft portion 28 when the cap 60 is placed on the body 10 all as shown best in FIG. 5 of the drawings.

The walls 18, 24 and 26 of the delivery opening 16 are straight and disposed parallel to the axis of the normal flow through the nozzle forming a nozzle bore. The edges :of the valve member 22 are bounded by these straight walls 18, 24, and 26 which form the nozzle bore. It will be understood that the valve member is thus located 'and'pivoted inwardlyof the endof the nozzle bore so that spray leakage is not diffused laterally aboutthe end of the nozzle when used to issue a jet stream on a generally fan shaped spray.

In operation, the nozzle device of the present invention may be used for irrigation or sprinkling purposes as desired.

When used for irrigation the pressure of water in the hose 13 forces the valve member 22 to an open position B whereby full flow of the hose is permitted. Thus, the valve member 22 does not create any flow restriction in the flow stream. In such a position the operating lever 36 is in a dash line position C and the hose may be unattended, as for example when the basin around a tree is being irrigated the nozzle device is merely laid to rest so that it permits a full flow of water to issue from the hose into said basin.

When the nozzle device of the present invention is used as a spraying device a long distance jet stream may be issued from the space between the edge 32 of the valve member 22 and the arcuate portion 18 of the opening 16 by holding the valve member 22 in the solid position as shown in FIGS. 3, 6 and 7. The valve member 22 may be held in this position by engaging the lever 39 with the thumb of one hand, in which the hose 13 is held, as shown in FIG. 9 of the drawings. When it is desired to issue a fan shaped spray from the nozzle device the lever 30 may be released upwardly so that water pres- Sure forces the valve member 22 to open slightly with respect to the opening 16 in the body 10, in which case a fan shaped spray of infinitely variable width and distance Within its maximum limits, may be formed by variable pressure on the lever 30. g It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications of the invention may be resorted to in a manner limited only by a just interpretation of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a nozzle device the combination of: a nozzle body havng a fluid delivery opening therein; side walls surrounding said opening being substantially parallel to the normal flow axis through the nozzle; a valve member pivoted in said opening and bounded by said side walls; a shaft in said 'body and supporting said valve member at right angles to said normal flow axis and permitting pivotal movement of said valve member to a position parallel to said normal flow axis, the cross-sectional shape of said delivery opening defined by said side walls surrounding said opening which comprises an arcuate wall section; a pair of straight wall sections coupled to opposite ends of said arcuate section; and a third straight section disposed at right angles to said pair of straight sections and interconnecting them.

2. In a nozzle device the combination of: a nozzle body having a fluid delivery opening therein; side walls surrounding said opening being substantially parallel to the normal flow axis through the nozzle; a valve member pivoted in said opening and bounded by said side walls; a shaft in said body and supporting said valve member at right angles to said normal flow axis and permitting pivotal movement of said valve member to a position parallel to said normal flow axis, the crosssectional shape of said delivery opening defined by said side walls surrounding said opening which comprises an arcuate wall section; a pair of straight Wall sections coupled to opposite ends of said arcuate section; a third straight section disposed at right angles to said pair of straight sections and interconnecting them; and an arcuate hub of said valve member concentric with the axis of said shaft, said arcuate hub disposed in wiping contact with-said third straight wall section of said opening.

3. In a nozzle device the combination of: a nozzle body having a fluid delivery opening therein; side walls surrounding said opening being substantially parallel to the normal flow axis through the nozzle; a valve member pivoted in said opening and bounded by said side walls, a shaft in said body and supporting said valve member at right angles to said normal flow axis and permitting pivotal movement of said valve member to a position parallel to said normal flow axis, the cross-sectional shape of said delivery opening defined by said side walls surrounding said opening which comprises an arcuate wall section; a pair of straight wall sections coupled to opposite ends of said arcuate section; a third straight section disposed at right angles to said pair of straight sections and interconnecting them; and arcuate hub of said valve member concentric with the axis of said shaft, said arcuate hub disposed in wiping contact with said third straight wall section of said opening, and an operating lever on said shaft and extending laterally of said body.

4. In a nozzle device the combination of: a nozzle body having a fluid delivery opening therein; side walls surrounding said opening being substantially parallel to the normal flow axis through the nozzle; a valve member pivoted in said opening and bounded by said side walls; a shaft in said body and supporting said valve member at right angles to said normal flow axis and permitting pivotal movement of said valve member to a position parallel to said normal flow axis, the crosssectional shape of said delivery opening defined by said side walls surrounding said opening which comprises an arcuate wall section; a pair of straight wall sections coupled to opposite ends of said arcuate section; a third straight section disposed at right angles to said pair of straight sections and interconnecting them; and an arcuate hub of said valve member concentric with the axis of said shaft, said arcuate hub disposed in wiping contact with said third straight wall section of said opening; and an operating lever on said shaft and extending laterally of said body; and bearing recesses in said body at opposite sides of said delivery opening in which said shaft is supported.

5. In a nozzle device the combination of: a nozzle body having a fluid delivery opening therein; side walls surrounding said opening being substantially parallel to the normal flow axis through the nozzle, a valve member pivoted in said opening and bounded by said side walls; the cross-sectional shape of said opening comprising an arcuate wall section and an opposed straight section adjacent to which said valve is pivotally mounted, the free end of said valve member having a straight edge portion disposed in spaced relation to said arcuate wall section.

6. In a nozzle device the combination of: a nozzle body having a fluid delivery opening therein; side walls surrounding said opening being substantially parallel to the normal flow axis through the nozzle, a valve member pivoted in said opening and bounded by said side walls, the cross-sectional shape of said opening comprising an arcuate wall section and an opposed straight section adjacent to which said valve member is pivotally mounted, the free end of said valve member having a straight edge portion disposed in spaced relation to said arcuate wall section; the ends of said straight edge portion being slightly spaced from said arcuate wall section.

7. In a nozzle the combination of: a nozzle body having a fluid delivery opening therein; side walls surround- 6 ing said opening being substantially parallel to the normal flow axis through the nozzle; a valve member pivoted in said opening and bounded by said side walls; a shaft in said body and supporting said valve member at right angles to said normal flow axis and permitting pivotal movement of said valve member to a position parallel to said normal flow axis; the cross-sectional shape of said delivery opening defined by said side walls surrounding said opening which comprise an arcuate wall section; a pair of straight wall sections coupled to opposite ends of said arcuate wall section; and a third straight section disposed at right angles to said pair of straight sections and interconnecting them, said valve member having an arcuate hub concentric with the axis of said shaft,

said arcuate hub disposed in wiping contact with saidthird straight wall section of said opening, said valve member having a straight edge portion spaced from said arcuate wall section, opposite ends of said straight edge portion being spaced from said arcuate wall section; and edge portions of said valve member extending from opposite ends of said straight edge portions toward said pair of straight wall sections, and on an angle toward said shaft.

8. In a nozzle device the combination of: a nozzle body having a fluid delivery opening therein; side walls surrounding said opening being substantially parallel to the normal flow axis through the nozzle; a flapper valve member pivoted in said opening and bounded by said side walls; a shaft in said body and supporting said flapper valve at right angles to said normal flow axis and permitting pivotal movement of said flapper valve to a position parallel to said normal flow axis; the cross-sectional shape of said delivery opening defined by said side walls surrounding said opening which comprise an arcuate wall section; a pair of straight wall sections coupled to opposite ends of said arcuate section; and a third straight wall section disposed at right angles to said pair of straight sections and interconnecting them; and an arcuate hub of said flapper valve concentric with the axis of said shaft, said arcuate hub disposed in wiping contact with said third straight wall section of said openmg.

9. In a nozzle device the combination of: a nozzle body having a fluid deliver opening therein; side wa ls surrounding said opening being substantially paraliel to the normal flow axis through the nozzle; a flapper valve pivoted in said opening and bounded by said side walls; the cross-sectional shape of said opening comprising anarcuate wall section and an opposed straight section adjacent to which said flapper valve is pivotally mounted; and a straight edge portion at the free end of said flapper valve disposed in spaced relation to said arcuate wall section.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 578,400 Gilmore Mar. 9, 1897 768,095 Twist Aug. 23, 1904 1,339,349 Kahler May 4, 1920 2,358,515 Jepson Sept. 19, 1944 2,369,326 Tirrell Feb. 13, 1945 

